System and Method for Multicasting in a Network Environment

1. A method, comprising: segmenting content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints; receiving a request for the content from an endpoint; and evaluating whether a portion of the content has already been multicasted, wherein if the portion has been multicasted, then the endpoint is connected to a multicast version of the portion of the content, and wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of the content is added to a multicast transmission schedule if at least one other endpoint has requested the content.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is sent over a unicast channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is based on a subscription model, or a previous query.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the endpoint includes a proxy that coordinates with a content player to receive the multicast version.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the proxy is coupled to a browser that enables the multicast version to be used by the endpoint.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the content player includes a multiplexing function, and wherein the content player is configured to tune multicast activities it conducts based on bandwidth utilization in a network.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the content player evaluates data being transmitted over a time interval and determines if there are enough endpoints requesting a content piece that is the same such that the content piece is sent over a multicast channel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein an update is sent to the endpoint to configure a proxy in the endpoint for multicasting activities.

9. An apparatus, comprising: a content player configured to: request a piece of content from a content source; segment the piece of content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints; receive a request for content from an endpoint; and evaluate whether a portion of the content has already been multicasted, wherein if the portion has been multicasted, then the endpoint is connected to a multicast version of the portion of the content, and wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is added to a multicast transmission schedule if at least one other endpoint has requested the content.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the content player requests a piece of content from a content source and segments the piece of content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is sent over a unicast channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the request is based on a subscription model, or a previous query.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the endpoint includes a proxy that coordinates with the content player to receive the multicast version, and wherein the proxy is coupled to a browser that enables the multicast version to be used by an end user of the endpoint, and wherein the content player evaluates data being transmitted over a time interval and determines if there are enough endpoints requesting a piece of content that is the same such that the piece of content is sent over a multicast channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the content player includes a multiplexing function, and wherein the content player can tune multicast activities it conducts based on bandwidth utilization in a network.

15. A non-transitory media configured to: request a piece of content from a content source; segment the piece of content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints; receive a request for content from an endpoint; and evaluate whether a portion of the content has already been multicasted, wherein if the portion has been multicasted, then the endpoint is connected to a multicast version of the portion of the content, and wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is added to a multicast transmission schedule if at least one other endpoint has requested the content.

16. The media of claim 15 , being further configured to: request a piece of content from a content source; and segment the piece of content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints.

17. The media of claim 15 , wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is sent over a unicast channel, and wherein the request is based on a subscription model, or a previous query.

18. A system, comprising: means for requesting a piece of content from a content source; means for segmenting the piece of content into clips to be delivered to one or more endpoints; means for receiving a request for content from an endpoint; and means for evaluating whether a portion of the content has already been multicasted, wherein if the portion has been multicasted, then the endpoint is connected to a multicast version of the portion of the content, and wherein if the portion has not been previously multicasted then the portion of content is added to a multicast transmission schedule if at least one other endpoint has requested the content.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising: means for tuning multicast activities for a content player based on bandwidth utilization in a network.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein an update is sent to the endpoint to configure a proxy in the endpoint for multicasting activities.